Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 February 2008
493 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science in respect to the 30 schools that were contacted by her Department before budget 2008 requesting them to put a hold on their building projects, if communications have resumed with these schools; if clearance to proceed to the next stage of construction was granted; when that information was conveyed and in what form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4848/08]
View answerUnder the National Development Plan there is €4.5 billion assigned to the capital requirements of the Primary and Post–Primary sectors. Just under €600 million will be spent this year on school buildings. The progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase is considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme in which the main focus is to deliver school places within rapidly developing areas. The progression of all school building projects will be considered in this context.
I announced recently a list of schools which are due to go to construction in 2008. I intend to make further announcements regarding projects that will be proceeding to construction during the course of the year as the school building programme is rolled out. The next announcement will occur after Easter.
